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Purpose of document
This guide is designed to highlight how a business resilience organization in the Pacific, the Vanuatu Business Resilience Council (VBRC), has integrated itself into government and non-government humanitarian processes to play a meaningful role in disaster recovery as well as support and influence resilience building overall.
In this document, we will share our lessons learnt and best practices around how to engage with humanitarian and development stakeholders as a business network.
Our story has been one of localization. Rather than always await external “disaster experts” the VBRC has successfully lobbied the Government for them to realize the added value of coordinating with local private sector stakeholders already operating in country; purchasing materials locally; engaging local technical experts; and prioritizing local logistical systems. Our aim has been to do a better job in humanitarian spaces by having our local business community fully engaged.
Private Sector Involvement in Humanitarian Activities
The private sector is a fundamental part of local communities. When they are affected by humanitarian crises, business has been engaged in humanitarian emergency preparedness, response, and recovery.
Private sector actors are present before humanitarian crises occur and as crises unfold, and they are often among the first part of society to respond. Both small and large private sector actors, whether they are operating directly in humanitarian contexts or indirectly through supply chains, can leverage their own expertise, resources, channels, and influence to address humanitarian needs and make positive contributions to long-term sustainable peace and development. They can do so independently by working directly with people affected by humanitarian crises, as well as by collaborating with governments and humanitarian organizations at the local, regional, and international levels.